Three Temptations Satan Will Use Against You

 

Study Guide for Week of March 13, 2022 

This Week's Scripture:  Matthew 4:1-11

Crossroads Community Group Guide

A. Welcome: Welcome everyone, especially new people, and read aloud the purpose of your group.

B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use: Lord I Give You My Heart   (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)

D. Video Message                                                                   

       

E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website        

F. Review:

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

G. Opening Question (an icebreaker - a simple question to introduce the main theme):

• What types of temptations do people face in living a life following Jesus?

H. Background Information for this study: 

This study looks at the temptation of Jesus. This is right before He begins His ministry. He is about 30 years old and has just been baptized and had the Holy Spirit descend upon Him. Note the types of temptations that Jesus faced and note how Jesus responded to them.  

We look at 3 types of temptations we all face from these verses that we face.

  

Temptation One: Satisfying a Normal Physical Need in a Wrong Way 

Temptation Two: Not Trusting in God’s Direction, Timing or Provision  
Temptation Three: Living as if Your Abilities, Resources and Opportunities are Yours 

I. Verse Outline: Key Points to Discuss

1.       1. Temptation One: Satisfying a Normal Physical Need in a Wrong Way - Verses 2-4 

• Key Concept: Temptation is the test which comes to the person God wishes to use - William Barclay 
• Key Verse: Psalm 119:9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 

• Community Group Application: A follower of Jesus’ number one priority is to learn and keep God’s word in their heart.

 

2. Temptation Two: Not Trusting in God’s Direction, Timing or Provision verses 5-7 

• Key Concept: Reading this book will keep you from sin; sin will keep you from reading this book. (Inscription found on the inside of a Chinese Bible from the early 1900’s) 
• Key Verse: Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  
• Community Group Application: Followers of Jesus answer satans questions by trusting God’s direction, timing and provision.

3.    Temptation Three: Living as if Your Abilities, Resources and Opportunities are Yours verses 8-10  

• Key Concept: We are tempted through our gifts, our resources and our opportunities to use them selfishly.  
• Key Verse: Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.  
• Community Group Application: Followers of Jesus live lives of service to God and others and use their abilities, resources, and opportunities to build God’s kingdom

J. Word: Read the scriptures above. Read it in smaller portions aloud together several times. (The goal is for everyone to understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words; keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses.)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?

2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.

3. What are the details?

4. What jumps out at you and catches your attention?

5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

K. Discuss the following general questions together. (The goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. The leader should not speak for more than 30% of the time; let the group discover what God is saying to them.)

1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?

3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?

4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

 
L. Commitment - Obedience - Application

(This is the key - have everyone answer this question.) 

1. What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

M. Prayer Time:  Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex           

1. Pray for your group to multiply.
2. Ask each other how you are doing spiritually.
3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group.

N. For Next time: Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.